23–99 years: Second Childhood: mastering a first profession and developing an independent identity. The period from 45–99 years of age is sometimes informally referred to as “Third” or “Late” Childhood. Declaration of majority before 45 is frowned upon; thereafter, there is a mounting expectation of declaration of majority. Vails tend to declare majority as soon as possible, with 49 years being the median, so that “Third Childhood” has a slightly derogatory ring when referring to a Vail. The median age for Staids is 86, as they have more material to master (namely the Long Conversation) before they are considered fully mature. During Third Childhood, more serious, though usually short-lived, intragender relationships develop. Intergender flirtations begin to be tolerated, but are still subject to significant parental and social policing.

100–199 years: The “Courting Century”: Normative social expectations depict this period as a flurry of activity in which more durable relationships are formed. Staids are expected to have matured slowly into a modest capacity for sexual fulfillment, and Vails to have gained enough perspective, maturity, and restraint to have true romantic relationships, so that intergender love is now seen as possible (and is regarded as a necessary ingredient for a healthy cohort). The idealized sequence is for pairs, triads, and quaternads to form, achieve some stability, and then merge with others to form semi-cohorts and, ultimately, a full cohort capable of raising a child. The reality is messier: many people never form any stable alliances at all, and a large majority cycle through various smaller units or candidate cohorts but never manage to attain consensus approval for parenting. And even those who do manage to end up in a parental cohort often take far longer than the canonical “Courting Century.” This period is also devoted to developing extended avocations and second and third professions.

200–299 years: Ideally, the “Parenting Century”: The canonical ideal is to raise two or three clusters of three or four siblings each, spaced out through this time; few actually achieve this. Some people will specialize in one of their early professions and settle into a routine, others develop their first meta-professions.

300–399 years: Traditionally this was regarded as the period of “Sovereign Livelihood,” with successful cohorts mostly turning away from the rearing of smaller children to concentrate on such things as aiding children and grandchildren with their professions, the establishment of cohorts (a cohort of 15 parents which has raised 6 children, each of whom ends up with 6 children, has 36 grandchildren to help find 540 cohort partners for!), and on senior roles in professions, avocations, and associations. Successful cohorts sometimes formally dissolve once all their children or grandchildren have declared full cohorts, freeing their more confident members to join new cohorts and, in some cases, even enjoy a second parenting. In modern times, such successes are no longer the norm.